I was recently interviewed by Fast Company on the effectiveness of “curve ball questions” in the interview process. When I received the call, I was intrigued. Surely there would be a pro and con, and I was happy to be the con artist.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in hiring managers conducting deep interviews to get beyond the BS. But judging competence on a 30 second response to “Who would win a battle between Spiderman and Batman?” places heavy value on a candidate’s ability to BS eloquently rather than lead.
Insightful introverts will lose in this game every time. That is a tragedy.
5 Messages Oozing From Curve Balls
- “We’re really smart, hope you can keep up (we don’t know about you, but we’re the bee’s knees.)”
- “I’m in charge, figure me out (I’m more important than you.)”
- “We love to play games (that make you feel uncomfortable… get used to it.)”
- “Form matters more than substance (we value a great gamer… are you tough enough?)”
- “There’s more where that came from (we expect you to learn to throw curve balls with your team and teach your high-potentials the art.)”
I’ve watched enough Little League to know that nothing feels more powerful than a curve ball.
But you’re bigger than that. Think wiser.
Yes, yes, go deep in an interview. Here are some ways.
Conduct behavior-based interviews. Dig deep and find out what matters most to them, and how it aligns with your culture. Look for ways your candidates set themselves apart.
Want to build a game-changing culture? Call me at 443-750-1249 for a free consultation.